Chapter 5: Educational Transitions: Korean Families with Children in American Schools

The purpose of this chapter is to explore the hope, uncertainty, and tension experienced by Korean parents as their children transition to U.S. schools. Through a series of interviews with parents from six Korean families, the following research questions were addressed: (a) What values and beliefs precipitate the difficult decisions these parents make to transplant their family or their children for the sake of a foreign education? (b) How does the culture of American education affect the adjustment of Korean students and the roles of the parents? and (c) In what ways can educators support the experiences and transitions of Korean students and their families?